Line #82 Recap/StarTrekS2E4MirrorMirror


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tos_mirrormirrorhd0598.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Now ''here's'' a particularly famous one, and not just for Mirror Spock's BeardOfEvil. (Although that's up there.)]]
3
4	'''Original air date:''' October 6, 1967
5
6	The USS ''Enterprise'' is in orbit of a planet ruled by [[PlanetOfHats the peaceful Halkans]]. A landing party consisting of [[TheKirk Captain Kirk]], [[TheMcCoy Doctor McCoy]], [[BridgeBunny Lieutenant Uhura]], [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Scotty]] are on the planet to convince the Halkans to allow the Federation mining rights. The inhabitants of the planet, however, are convinced that HumansAreTheRealMonsters, and despite Kirk's assertion that if the answer is "no" then they will simply be on their way without troubling the Halkans further, the aliens remain entirely unconvinced.
7
8	The landing party beam back to the ''Enterprise''. But [[TeleporterAccident it all goes horribly wrong]], [[TeleportationMisfire and our heroes find themselves]] TrappedInAnotherWorld. In this AlternateUniverse there exists not a [[TheFederation peaceful confederation of planets]], but instead an EvilEmpire that slashes and burns its way across the galaxy. The first and most obvious change is that Spock has [[BeardOfEvil got a goatee beard]]; but there are other signs: nearly all the walls of the ''Enterprise'' are [[SigilSpam emblazoned with a logo of a sword through the planet Earth]], and there are also [[AgonyBeam agony booths]] around, used for punishing misbehaviour among the crew.
9
10	Finally finding a moment to take refuge alone, our four man crew [[HuddlePower attempt to figure out what happened.]] They reason that an ion storm around the planet disrupted the transporter and sent them to a MirrorUniverse by accident, swapping them with their own counterparts from this universe. They make a plan to return home, replicating the unique situation that brought them here. But until then they will need to [[FishOutOfWater try and blend in]] as best they can. (As for the unsettling thought of what their counterparts are doing, it later turns out that Spock back in their own dimension has it under control; their barbaric character was immediately obvious to him and he had them hauled to the brig right away.)
11
12	In his quarters, Captain Kirk meets [[GirlOfTheWeek Marlena Moreau]], who introduces herself as "the Captain's woman". He resists the temptation to {{Boldly Com\|ing}}e, instead subtly pressing her for information. Moreau introduces Kirk to the real source of his evil counterpart's power: [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands the Tantalus field]], a device which he stole from an alien planet, and which allows him to [[OneHitKill evaporate people]] [[BigRedButton at the touch of a button]]. Kirk, naturally, [[WhatDoesThisButtonDo resists the temptation]] [[DontTouchItYouIdiot to push it and see what happens.]]
13
14	Our crew put their plan into action. While Lieutenant Uhura distracts Mirror Sulu from his security monitoring board, Scotty shorts out the main phaser couplings and siphons power off to the transporter. Kirk, in the meantime, has to deal with an [[KlingonPromotion assassination attempt]] by Mirror Chekov, and another possible attempt from Mirror Spock. In the sickbay, a fight breaks out between the crew and Mirror Sulu's gang of thugs. Marlena Moreau evens the odds by using the Tantalus field to [[UnPerson remove]] Mirror Sulu's gang, and our crew triumph. But Mirror Spock arrives on the scene. His curiosity about the crew's bizarre behaviour since returning from the surface has been piqued, and he performs a MindRape on the doctor to get the full story.
15
16	Moreau [[EscortMission guides Kirk to the transporter room]], but then performs a HeelFaceTurn, deciding that she would rather come back to the prime universe alongside Kirk. To this end she pulls a phaser on him and starts making demands. Captain Kirk WouldntHitAGirl, but thankfully he's not required to, because Lieutenant Uhura sneaks up behind Moreau and instigates a DesignatedGirlFight (which she wins). One further obstacle comes in the form of Mirror Spock, who arrives on the scene alongside the crew...
17
18	...but he too has performed a HeelFaceTurn, and receives AnAesop from Captain Kirk:
19	->'''Kirk:''' You're a man of integrity in both universes, Mister Spock.\
20	'''Mirror Spock:''' You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. [[RaceAgainstTheClock You have two minutes and ten seconds.]]\
21	'''Kirk:''' In that time I have [[AnAesop something to say.]] How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised?\
22	'''Mirror Spock:''' Approximately two hundred and forty years.\
23	'''Kirk''': The inevitable outcome?\
24	'''Mirror Spock:''' [[EvilWillFail The Empire shall be overthrown]], of course.\
25	'''Kirk''': [[KirkSummation The illogic of waste, Mister Spock. The waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it.]]\
26	'''Mirror Spock:''' You have one minute and twenty-three seconds.\
27	'''Kirk:''' If [[GrowingTheBeard change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial]], doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?\
28	'''Mirror Spock:''' One man cannot summon the future.\
29	'''Kirk:''' [[DareToBeBadass But one man can change the present]]. Be the captain of this ''Enterprise'', Mister Spock. Find a logical reason for [[AdoptTheDog sparing the Halkans]] and make it stick. Push till it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet.\
30	'''Scotty:''' Captain, get in the chamber!\
31	'''Kirk:''' What about it, Spock?\
32	'''Mirror Spock:''' A man must also have the power.\
33	'''Kirk:''' In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible.\
34	'''Mirror Spock:''' [[FascinatingEyebrow Indeed?]]\
35	'''Kirk:''' What will it be? Past or future? [[GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeath Tyranny or freedom?]] [[TheOnlyOne It's up to you.]]\
36	'''Mirror Spock:''' It is time.\
37	'''Kirk:''' In every revolution, there's [[MessianicArchetype one man with a vision]].\
38	'''Mirror Spock:''' Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.
39
40	Mirror Spock activates the transporter and sends them home. Back in the prime universe, Captain Kirk goes over the events they have experienced, and is then surprised to discover that a new Lieutenant named Marlena Moreau is among his crew. But he stops just short of telling her "AndYouWereThere".
41
42	The website Website/TheAgonyBooth is named after the torture device featured in this episode.
43
44	As for what Mirror Spock does after hearing our Kirk's inspiring speech, see the ''WebVideo/StarTrekContinues'' episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJf2ovQtI6w Fairest of Them All]]".
45	----
46	!!Tropes, Tropes:
47	* ActualPacifist: The Halkans. Interestingly, they're like this in the Mirror Universe as well.
48	* AgonyBeam: Both the Agony Booth and the Agonizer are classic examples.
49	* AlmightyJanitor: Mirror Spock rather enjoys his duties as a science officer, and doesn't terribly want to take Kirk's job because it would mean spending less time on his research and more time having to deal with TheChainsOfCommanding, to say nothing of [[KlingonPromotion how it would make him a bigger target]].
50	* BareMidriffsAreFeminine: And in Mirror Starfleet, bare ''arms'' are ''masculine'' (at least for captains, anyway).
51	* BeardOfEvil: The {{Trope Maker\|s}} and the {{Trope Namer\|s}}[[invoked]]. Ironically, Mirror Spock is just about the ''least'' evil crewman in the Mirror Universe, though his logical mindset still masks a sociopathic indifference to human emotion.
52	* BribeBackfire: Mirror Kirk [[BuyThemOff offers our Spock money, a starship command, or whatever else]] in exchange for releasing him from the brig. [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules Spock, of course, isn't even slightly tempted.]]
53	* ChastityDagger: Not that women in the Mirror Starfleet are chaste, but they're quite likely to have to defend themselves against unwanted male attention.
54	* ContinuityNod: Captain Pike is mentioned, as Mirror Kirk killed him to get his job.
55	* CustomUniformOfSexy: The female uniforms of the Mirror Starfleet show off their abdomen, resulting in the sighting of Uhura's very toned abs.
56	* DareToBeBadass: Kirk's final speech to Mirror-Spock dares him to change the illogical, wasteful cruelty of the Empire into something better.
57	* ADayInTheLimelight: For Uhura and Scott, along with (Mirror) Sulu and Chekov. Not for nothing is this episode considered one of the show's finest ensemble pieces.
58	* DeadpanSnarker: Kirk gets a moment when he returns to his quarters after Mirror Chekov tries to assassinate him.
59	-->'''[=McCoy=]:''' [''Touching Kirk's split lip''] What's this?
60	-->'''Kirk:''' It's called "blood."
61	* DescriptionCut: Kirk ominously ponders what horrors their evil counterparts are wreaking on their ''Enterprise'' where they would have full run of the ship. Cut to the prime ''Enterprise'' where they are getting tossed into the brig by a thoroughly unperturbed Spock, who apparently identified the doubles immediately.
62	* DesignatedGirlFight: Uhura and Marlena. Doubles as a CurbStompBattle, as Uhura totally owns Marlena from the word "go".
63	* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] by Mirror-Spock.
64	-->''"Terror must be maintained or the Empire is doomed."''
65	* DeterminedDoctor: Despite Kirk having had to knock Mirror Spock out when he risked interfering in their plan to return home, [=McCoy=] insists on saving him -- which pays off for them in the end.
66	* DeusExMachina: The mirror ''Enterprise'' computer, given only a fairly far-fetched hypothesis and very little data, still works out a way to get everyone home. Presumably Spock solves the same problem on his end.
67	* DidntThinkThisThrough: When Mirror!Sulu tries to have Kirk killed, he brought three RedShirt[=s=] armed with phasers to do the deed, and wasn't equipped with the same. Then the latter are quickly removed from the equation, leaving him outnumbered four-to-one with only a knife on hand ... which actually worked in his favor; if he'd brought a phaser, Marlena likely would have eliminated him with the Tantalus Field, as opposed to Kirk KO'ing him.
68	* DisintegratorRay: The Tantalus Field, the reason Kirk's still in office despite everyone and their dog trying to assassinate him for a promotion.[[note]] In some extended universe works all it does is teleport its targets to distant locations.[[/note]]
69	* DoppelgangerGetsSameSentiment:
70	** Kirk shows more softness than one would expect toward the Mirror Spock, who (despite being better than Mirror Kirk) is as ruthless as one would expect from the Mirrorverse. This probably has something to do with [[HeterosexualLifePartners his close relationship]] to his own Spock. Kirk even comments on how alike they are.
71	** There are some suggestions that this is reciprocated - Mirror!Spock seems quite willing to forgive Prime!Kirk for nearly killing him. Besides, even in the Mirror Verse, apparently [[HeterosexualLifePartners Kirk and Spock ]] share [[TheNotLoveInterest some kind of relation]], considering how Mirror!Spock seemed genuinely reluctant to obey the order to kill Kirk, in fact, even warned him about it at considerable risk to his own life.
72	** Another example appeared in the script and the James Blish novelization but not the episode. In this version, Mirror Chekov hit on Uhura, not Mirror Sulu, and when Uhura got home, Chekov Prime suffered her displaced irritation, [[BewilderingPunishment much to his confusion.]]
73	* TheEmpire: The Terran Empire, in obvious contrast to TheFederation.
74	* EqualOpportunityEvil: Despite being evil in just about every other way, the Terran Empire doesn't seem to be racist. At the very least, it's not racist enough to prevent Uhura and Sulu from being senior officers on the ''Enterprise''.
75	* EscortDistraction: Although not really escorting him per se, Lieutenant Uhura does try to keep Mirror Sulu distracted by constantly appraising him, so he won't notice Scott disabling the ship's phasers.
76	* EvilCannotComprehendGood:
77	** While the crew from our universe are able to blend in fairly successfully, the Mirror crew who were brought over to the Prime universe were immediately caught.
78	--->'''Spock:''' It was far easier for you as civilized men to act as barbarians, than for them as barbarians to act like civilized men.
79	** Mirror Spock's complete lack of understanding why Kirk left him alive is the reason behind him [[MindRape performing a forced mind meld]] on [=McCoy=].
80	* EvilIsHammy: Kirk is already hammy enough, but Mirror Kirk ''shouts'' with every sentence. Though, this could possibly be justified, as from his perspective, he's dealing with a mutiny by his First Officer.
81	* EvilTwin: All the Mirror Universe versions of the ''Enterprise'' crew. The Halkans appear to be about the same, though their Mirror counterparts are more resigned to their fate.
82	* ExactWords: Captain Kirk tricks Marlena by saying things that are perfectly accurate descriptions of his plans, but are vague enough that Marlena interprets them to mean that he's got an EvilPlan going on.
83	* {{Expy}}: An EvilCounterpart to TheFederation where you advance by assassinating your superiors appears to have been inspired by Boskone in the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' novels.
84	* {{Fanservice}}: Both [[MrFanservice male]] and [[MsFanservice female]]. Most notable are Uhura and Marlena in their [[{{Stripperiffic}} barely there]] uniforms, but '60s Shatner had some nice arms.
85	* TheFettered: Probably best exemplified by this bit of dialogue:
86	-->'''Halkan:''' Captain, you do have the might to ''force'' the crystals from us.
87	-->'''Kirk:''' But we ''won't''. Consider that.
88	* FirstNameBasis: This is the only ''Original Series'' episode in which Scotty calls Kirk "Jim".
89	* GenderFlip: The ''ISS Enterprise'' has a masculine computer voice, in contrast to the feminine voice on the ''USS Enterprise''.
90	* GoodScarsEvilScars: Mirror Sulu definitely has the 'evil' kind. It looks like a DuelingScar, suggesting that Mirror Sulu may share Prime Sulu's interest in fencing, although in the Terran Empire it's presumably more lethal.
91	* HumanAliens: The only thing that differentiates the Halkans from humans is a blue spot on their foreheads.
92	* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: The Halkans believe so. In the Prime Universe, they're wrong. In the Mirror Universe, they're right. Spock has his own take on that subject, of course.
93	-->'''Spock''': They were brutal, savage, unprincipled, uncivilized, treacherous ... in every way, splendid examples of ''Homo sapiens''; the very flower of humanity. I found them quite refreshing.
94	-->'''Kirk''' [''DoubleTake'']: I'm not sure, but I think we've just been insulted.
95	-->'''[[DeadpanSnarker McCoy]]''': ''I'm'' sure.
96	* ICantLookGesture: Uhura can't stand to watch Mirror!Kyle suffer the agonizer treatment.
97	* ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder: As Scotty needs help, [=McCoy=] says "I'm a doctor, not an engineer", but Scotty retorts "''Now'', you're an engineer."
98	* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode: The MirrorUniverse seems like yet another one-off thing from '60s Trek...until ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' revisits it, followed by ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' and ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery''. Mirror Universe invaders are major adversaries in ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'', and uniform and ship options are available to role-play as one.
99	* InSpiteOfANail: In the alternate universe, there's a repressive Empire in place of the Federation of Planets, but there's still a starship ''Enterprise'' with many of the same crew mostly in the same positions. Partly explained by the mechanism of transfer ''requiring'' a certain amount of similarity: it could only have happened between two universes which both had a Kirk, a Scotty, a [=McCoy=], and a Uhura doing the same thing at the same time.
100	* InstantSedation: Used by [=McCoy=] to deal with the guard on the engineering section.
101	* KirkSummation: Surprisingly, it actually ''works''.
102	* KlingonPromotion
103	** Apparently the ''only'' way promotion happens in the Imperial Starfleet. Mirror Kirk himself was promoted by assassinating Mirror Captain Pike. Mirror Sulu and Mirror Chekov ''both'' attempt this maneuver in the episode itself, impressive considering it takes place over a few ''hours''!
104	** Mirror Kirk apparently protects himself from hourly attempts to invoke this trope by using the Tantalus Field to kill anyone who might be plotting against them, wherever they are on the ship.
105	* LargeHam: [[EvilIsHammy Most of the Mirror Universe inhabitants]], but in his brief appearance, Mirror Kirk takes the cake (surprise, surprise...).
106	-->'''Mirror Kirk:''' '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I...ORDER YOU...LET ME GO!]]'''
107	* MindRape: Mirror Spock takes the capabilities of the mind meld to their worst possible conclusion.
108	* MirrorUniverse: Again, the {{Trope Namer\|s}}[[invoked]], as well as the TropeCodifier.
109	** UnbuiltTrope: This story helped to popularize the MirrorUniverse trope, but it didn't take the good-evil reversal as far as later shows would. Spock, despite his mirror-universe BeardOfEvil, was "a man of honor in both universes" (though Mirror Spock definitely had a darker personality than his prime counterpart), and the Aliens of the Week, the Halkans, didn't change at all- the only difference with them was that Starfleet wouldn't live up to their fears, while the Terran Empire ''would''.
110	* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: Marlena doesn't need a knife or a phaser when she can use the Tantalus Field to kill anyone long-distance. Though it should be noted that said field was originally Mirror Kirk's.
111	* OhCrap:
112	** Mirror Kyle is terrified when Mirror Spock prepares to punish him for not performing the beam-up as well as he was supposed to.
113	---> '''Spock:''' Your agonizer.\
114	'''Kyle:''' No, Mister Spock!\
115	'''Spock:''' Your agonizer, please.\
116	'''Kyle:''' No, Mister Spock! I tried! I really tried!
117	** Mirror Sulu reminds Mirror Spock that "the Captain's enemies have a habit of disappearing": and Mirror Spock replies [[ImpliedDeathThreat with a line]] that causes Mirror Sulu to react with a nauseated grimace:
118	--->"If I am successful, you see yourself a step nearer to the captaincy. I do not want to command the ''Enterprise''. But if it should befall me, I suggest you remember that my operatives would avenge my death: and some of them ... ''are Vulcans''."
119	** And speaking of "disappearing", when Mirror Marlena uses the Tantalus Field on Sulu's men during his attempt to get rid of both Kirk and Spock, and Mirror Sulu suddenly finds himself outnumbered four to one.
120	* OrbitalBombardment: The Empire really likes applying General Order 24 (first introduced in [[Recap/StarTrekS1E23ATasteOfArmageddon "A Taste of Armageddon"]] in the prime universe) as a regular means of submission.
121	* PlotArmor: This even extends into the Mirror Universe: Mirror Spock, Mirror Sulu, and Mirror Chekov are all spared when by rights they ought to have been killed, solely by virtue of being played by the regular cast. (Although to be fair at least Mirror Chekov is made to suffer, and although Mirror Spock is resuscitated when he is knocked out, Mirror Sulu is simply left unconscious on the floor.)
122	* PraetorianGuard: Imperial captains have a personal guard to prevent random acts of KlingonPromotion. They arrive suspiciously late to the scene of Chekov's assassination attempt on Kirk, which hints that, like ancient Rome, their loyalties aren't absolute; Mirror!Kirk would presumably have been more insistent that they accompany him at all times (and of course, would never have opened himself up to assassination by disobeying a Starfleet order to begin with). The secret Tantalus device in Kirk's quarters also means that he doesn't have to rely on them as much.
123	* ProperlyParanoid: The captain's chair on the ISS Enterprise has a taller back than on the USS Enterprise. Since assassination is a normal means of advancement, the captain needs to protect his back on the bridge.
124	* PunishmentBox: The Agony Booth again.
125	* PuttingOnTheReich: The Mirror Universe officers greet one another with the Roman salute (aka the Nazi salute).
126	* RedShirt: One element of consistency between the two universes. [[KlingonPromotion Two attempts on Kirk's life]] lead to five redshirts going [[DisintegratorRay bye-bye.]]
127	* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: When one of Mirror Chekov's henchmen switches sides, he mentions that while Chekov promised him a promotion to chief, Kirk could make him an officer. Our Kirk approves, then belts him to remind him who's the top dog.
128	* SensibleHeroesSkimpyVillains: Girls in the Mirror ''Enterprise'' bare their midriffs [[ShowSomeLeg as well as their legs]], and Mirror Kirk's uniform does a nice job of showing off William Shatner's nice chest and arms.
129	* SlouchOfVillainy: The normally uptight, well-disciplined Starfleet {{Redshirt}}s are seen leaning against the turbolift entrance to the bridge.
130	* SmugSnake: Mirror Sulu. In every one of his scenes he's up to no good, and he doesn't even try to hide it.
131	* SureLetsGoWithThat: Marlena suspects that Kirk's unusual behavior is part of a scheme to gain rank and power. Kirk plays along with a [[ExactWords technically true]] [[SarcasticConfession statement of his intentions]] that Marlena [[DoubleMeaning interprets to mean]] that he's planning to take over the Empire.
132	* TapOnTheHead: {{Subverted\|Trope}}: hitting Spock over the head with a vase is noted to be fatal without quick medical intervention.
133	* VillainsBlendInBetter: {{Inverted\|Trope}}; see EvilCannotComprehendGood.
134	* {{Xenafication}}: Uhura gets a rare chance to show off her combat skills, twice, first fending off a lustful Mirror Sulu and then taking Marlena out when she pulls a phaser on Kirk in the transporter room.
135	* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: This is the only time in both the series and the original movies that Scotty calls Captain Kirk "Jim", when he begs him not to stay behind to operate the transporter. It's not lost on Kirk either, who gently but firmly reaffirms his order.
136	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse
137	** We never see what becomes of the Halkans in either universe, or the deals regarding the dilithium crystals.
138	** There's no time in the episode to definitively establish what happened to the Mirror landing party after Spock threw them in the brig. However, note that when the Prime party gets home, Spock is waiting for them in the transporter room -- with a pair of redshirt guards. He likely deduced how they would return and held the Mirror party waiting on the pad so that they could be exchanged by the transport.

Context Recap / StarTrekS2E4MirrorMirror